Confessions of A Harry Potter Virgin: Edition 2: The Chamber of Secrets

At 33 years old, I had never read Harry Potter. In a world full of Muggles and Witches and Wizards, and tens of thousands of memes dedicated to all things Potter, I was unknowing. Oh, I followed Voldemort on Twitter and giggled at some of the things he said….but I didn’t get it. You don’t truly get it until you’ve read the books, even in a world saturated with Potterisms. I didn’t know about dragons, or three-headed dogs that could be sung to sleep, or potions and spells, or Quidditch and the Snitch, or Gryffindor, or invisible cloaks, or Platform 9 ¾. I didn’t know the Hogwarts school song, and I hadn’t met the Weasley Twins yet…or Professor Snape and Dumbledore. I may just have been one of the last people on Earth to begin waiting on my own letter (which, I suspect my postman may have stolen…). Yes, at 33, I was a Harry Potter Virgin. These are my confessions of a Harry Potter virgin.

The Dursleys were so mean and hideous that summer that all Harry Potter wanted was to get back to the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. But just as he's packing his bags, Harry receives a warning from a strange, impish creature named Dobby who says that if Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts, disaster will strike.

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And strike it does. For in Harry's second year at Hogwarts, fresh torments and horrors arise, including an outrageously stuck-up new professor, Gilderoy Lockheart, a spirit named Moaning Myrtle who haunts the girl's bathroom, and the unwanted attentions of Ron Weasley's younger sister, Ginny.

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But each of these seem minor annoyances when the real trouble beings, and someone--or something--starts turning Hogwarts students to stone. Could it be Draco Malfoy, a more poisonous rival than ever? Could it possibly be Hagrid, whose mysterious past is finally told? Or could it be the one everyone at Hogwarts most suspects...Harry Potter himself.

I didn’t think it was possible to one-up a five-star book, but Rowling does it in The Chamber of Secrets, which becomes just slightly darker than The Sorcerer’s Stone. The first book introduces you to the characters and the places; The Chamber of Secrets begins taking you deep into the heart of Hogwarts, revealing secrets, dangers and Voldemort’s past, in fits and spurts. Harry was warned, don’t go back to Hogwarts, by a house-elf (which is the first I am introduced to house-elves – I want a house-elf!) named Dobby….of course he doesn’t listen. Harry never listens. The plot intrigued me so! Something is turning students and teachers (and ghosts?!) into stone, but who??? Initially I was very suspecting of the new Dark Arts teacher, and then Draco Malfoy (the little bastard), but the Dark Arts teacher seemed too fluffy and Draco is just too young and stupid (and arrogant, and stupid, and….). That still left a lot of possibilities, though, so who could it be? Of course Lord Voldemort ALWAYS tops the list. Let me tell you, I LOVE THE WEASLEY TWINS. They are so vibrant and full of life and they completely make up for any stuck-upness that Percy the Perfect – I mean Prefect – has going on. Harry is without a doubt still the most fascinating character for me (maybe, for anyone?) and there is so much he doesn’t even know about himself! Overall, this was much more exciting than The Sorcerer’s Stone, what with the secret chamber and Voldemort getting into the school via someone else’s body. I can already tell the intrigue is growing and the books are becoming darker. I am also very curious about the ties between Harry and Voldemort!

Jennifer is both a book nerd and professional photographer. That means she lives in the fantasy world all the time, whether of her making, or someone else's.
She collects books like the Duggar family collects kids, and began waiting for her Hogwarts letter at the tender age of 33.

I absolutely LOVE everything about how you’re doing this review series. Really, it’s uber-creative and if I were a blogger, I’d be completely jealous and irked that I didn’t think of it first. 😉Jenn Cooksey (@Jenn_Cooksey)’s latest thoughts >> I suck, I know, but in my defense…

When I first read Chamber of Secrets, I was upset that it had the bad guy be the same as the first book. I didn’t know yet that he’s the major villain throughout until the epic finale. Did you have that reaction or did you already know?

I love Fred and George! They are two of my favorite characters in the series. (My high best friend and I use to be nicknamed Fred and George, lol). What do you think of Hermione thus far? I kind of hated her a bit.

Man, I love reading about people who read Harry Potter for the first time – I am so jealous! I’m 27 and way before they were famous I found an innocuous copy of The Philosopher’s Stone in my school library and then slowly all the others came out and I couldn’t believe it just kept on going and going — hehe my first introduction to serials. :)\n\nAnyway, good for you! I feel like because it got so famous it’s really hard to read it without being overly critical and yes, with my knowledge now I could pick at certain things but why would I want to? These books are wonderfully wild rides and so cute and funny and humane! 🙂